In the mountainous heart of Southwest China, far from any coffee plantation, a quiet revolution is brewing. Guiyang, a city of around 6 million people, has transformed itself into one of the most vibrant coffee cultures in the country—despite not producing a single coffee bean. With over 3,000 registered coffee shops, Guiyang boasts one of the highest coffee shop densities in China—approximately one café for every 2,000 residents—surpassing even Shanghai.
This thriving scene has given rise to a new nickname: "China’s Coffee Champion City." From world-class baristas to innovative brews infused with local flavors, Guiyang’s ascent in the global coffee world is both unexpected and inspiring.
The Birth of a Coffee Culture
Just 20 years ago, China's coffee landscape was dominated by instant blends and chain-store lattes. But in 2005, Guiyang quietly planted the seeds of change with the opening of early specialty coffee pioneers like Yue Du Shi Guang (Reading Time) and Soil Coffee. These were among the first to introduce the concept of specialty coffee—a philosophy emphasizing bean origin, precise roasting, and meticulous brewing.
At that time, few understood what “third-wave coffee” meant. Yet, these early adopters cultivated a generation of passionate coffee professionals who would go on to shape the national scene.
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One such pioneer is Peng Jingyang, the 2025 World Brewers Cup champion. Introduced to specialty coffee during high school in Guiyang, Peng was captivated by the nuanced flavors unlocked through proper roasting and brewing. In 2013, he co-founded Captain George, a small roasting studio that sold just 40 bags of beans in its first month.
Undeterred, Peng immersed himself in training—from Beijing workshops to mentorship under international champions. His persistence paid off: from 2020 to 2025, his team won five consecutive national titles in the Chinese Brewers Cup. Peng himself claimed the national crown in 2023 and 2025, finishing fifth globally in Athens before finally claiming gold in Jakarta.
His victory marked the second time a mainland Chinese competitor had won the prestigious World Brewers Cup—proof that Guiyang isn’t just drinking coffee; it’s defining it.
The Soil That Grows Champions
Guiyang’s success isn’t accidental—it’s cultivated. Local café owners don’t just serve coffee; they live it. Take Leiming, owner of Black Stone Coffee, hidden inside an old residential building. His journey began with a sip of Golden Mandheling at one of Guiyang’s earliest specialty cafes.
When his business faltered in 2017, Leiming didn’t close up shop—he doubled down. He borrowed money to renovate, invested in professional training, and focused relentlessly on quality. By 2018, Black Stone Coffee had revived, attracting equal parts loyal locals and curious visitors.
Today, the café serves over 300 cups daily during peak seasons, with nearly 75% of customers coming from outside Guiyang. Leiming now judges national coffee competitions—an evolution emblematic of the city’s broader trend: owners becoming experts, experts becoming judges.
This “curator-to-judge” pipeline is widespread:
- Hu Ying (The Right Coffee) is both a champion and a certified judge for World Coffee & Spirits Championships.
- Du Ting (Captain George) serves as a judge for national roasting and brewing events.
- Zhu Jialu (Combos) chairs the national Latte Art Championship.
- Qiang Hua (Wu Jie Coffee) presides over China’s Coffee Brewing Championship.
These aren’t just business owners—they’re stewards of craft, raising standards across the industry.
Innovation Brewed Locally
What sets Guiyang apart isn’t just technical excellence—it’s creativity. Cafés here push boundaries, blending tradition with experimentation.
Leiming shocked skeptics when he introduced pounded herb (Zhe’ergen) Americano—a bold fusion of bitter greens and bright coffee. What started as a novelty became a sensation, symbolizing Guiyang’s fearless palate. In 2024, Black Stone Coffee launched its “One Bean, Three Ways” tasting menu, pairing single-origin beans with regional ingredients like pickled vegetables and fermented sauces.
Other shops innovate beyond flavor:
- At Wu Jie Coffee, minimalist concrete architecture doubles as a community hub and training ground for aspiring baristas.
- Hao Shi Coffee turns cups into canvases—each hand-painted vessel reflecting the mood of the brew within.
- Owner Luo Nianyu believes balance lies between consistency and surprise: “People want reliability, but also moments that delight.”
This spirit extends to format too. Guiyang sees constant experimentation:
- Coffee + Books: Quiet corners where readers sip slow brews.
- Coffee + Cats: Cozy lounges with feline companions.
- Coffee + Theater: Pop-up performances paired with seasonal menus.
- Coffee + Alcohol: Evening transitions from pour-over to craft cocktails.
It’s not just about caffeine—it’s about connection.
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Why Guiyang? The Ingredients Behind the Brew
Several factors explain Guiyang’s rise:
- Cultural Openness: According to the 2023 China Quality of Life Survey, Guiyang ranks top five nationwide in willingness to spend on self-indulgence—higher than Beijing or Shanghai.
- Early Adoption: By embracing specialty coffee in 2005, Guiyang got ahead of the curve.
- Community Focus: Small-scale roasters support each other through shared knowledge and events.
- Local Identity: Rather than imitating Western models, Guiyang blends global techniques with Guizhou’s bold, sour-forward cuisine.
Even without local beans, Guiyang has built a self-sustaining ecosystem—roasters train baristas, baristas compete internationally, competitors return as mentors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Does Guiyang grow any coffee beans?
A: No. All coffee beans used in Guiyang are imported or sourced from other regions. However, this hasn't stopped the city from mastering every other stage of coffee production—from roasting to brewing.
Q: How many coffee shops are there in Guiyang?
A: Over 3,000 registered coffee shops operate in the city, giving it one of the highest per-capita densities in China—about one shop per 2,000 residents.
Q: Who are some famous baristas from Guiyang?
A: Peng Jingyang (2025 World Brewers Cup Champion), Leiming (Black Stone Coffee), and Qiang Hua (Wu Jie Coffee) are among the most prominent figures representing Guiyang on national and international stages.
Q: What makes Guiyang’s coffee culture unique?
A: Its fusion of technical precision, community-driven learning, and fearless culinary experimentation—like using local ingredients such as Zhe’ergen in coffee—sets it apart.
Q: Are there coffee training programs in Guiyang?
A: Yes. Several cafés, including Wu Jie Coffee and Captain George, host international certification courses, cupping sessions, and pre-competition training camps.
Q: Is Guiyang’s coffee scene still growing?
A: Absolutely. As of 2025, the number of specialty cafes continues to rise steadily, supported by strong local demand and increasing national recognition.
Guiyang proves that greatness doesn’t always come from where you’d expect. Without a single coffee farm, this mountain city has brewed something far richer: a culture where passion meets precision, tradition meets innovation—and every cup tells a story.
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